Letters from Martin L. Shotzberger to Edwin J. Merrick and Ronald C. Smith

Letters from Martin L. Shotzberger to Edwin J. Merrick and Ronald C. Smith

This document is a letter from Dean Martin L. Shotzberger to Edwin J. Merrick, the head football coach at the University of Richmond, that was sent on June 10, 1964. In this letter, Shotzberger attached a letter he sent to Ronald C. Smith, a student. Shotzberger wrote to Merrick, "…it is to be explicitly understood that beyond the case of Mr. Smith, students enrolled in University College evening classes will not be eligible to participate in inter-collegiate activities." In the attached letter to Smith, Shotzberger wrote that Smith was allowed to register as a full-time student at University College and participate in varsity football "provided, of course, that [his] Summer School work is of a satisfactory level." Shotzberger also made it clear to Smith that he was allowed to play football "[upon special action of the Committee of Deans" and "that such action on the part of the Deans was made solely on their interest in [him] as a student." Smith’s race and socioeconomic circumstances are unknown. At the time, University College was the only division at UR which accepted black students.

Letters from Martin L. Shotzberger to Edwin J. Merrick and Ronald C. Smith, 10 June 1964, RG 6.2.4 box 4, University Archives, Virginia Baptist Historical Society.

1964-06-10

English

UA6.2.4.4-19640610.pdf

Richmond (Va.)